Hong Kong-Bound Dragonair Flight Diverted to Xiamen Due to Air Conditioning Problem

A Hong Kong-bound Dragonair (KA) flight from Fuzhou was diverted in Xiamen on Wednesday night 30 minutes after takeoff, due  a suspected problem with air conditioner, local media reported.

Flight KA663, performed by an Airbus A330-300 aircraft with 259 passengers and 14 crews, took off from Fuzhou Changle International Airport (FOC) at 8:26 p.m. on Monday. The pilot decided to make an emergency landing at Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN) as a precautionary measure after reporting smoking in the cabin.

The aircraft continued for a safe landing and taxied to the apron at around 9:25 p.m., where emergency services attended to the aircraft.

Passengers reported there was smoke in the cabin that appears to originate from the air conditioning system. "After all passengers were disembarked, fire fighters rushed in."

Xiamen airport confirmed the incident and said that the smoke was probably caused by the aircraft's malfunctioning air conditioning system.

A Dragonair spokesperson said the flight was diverted "as a precautionary measure due to suspected defects with the air conditioning system, leading to smoke detected in the cabin." The plane landed safely and no one was injured in the incident. Since the plane had to be repaired, passengers were arranged to stay at hotels and board another flight to Hong Kong on Oct. 8.

A replacement aircraft carrying over 200 passengers departed from Fuzhou at 12:00 p.m. on the following day.